Emerald Isle leaders are moving to crack down on dune destruction.
After a primary primary dune at a multi-million dollar construction site on Ocean Drive was bulldozed, the town’s planning board voted Monday to recommend much stiffer penalties. The proposal would hike the current $1,000 town fine to $10,000 for future violations.
In addition to the higher fine, the new rules would give violators just thirty days to restore the damaged dune and replant vegetation—cutting the current 60-day deadline in half. The recommendation now moves to the Board of Commissioners for a public hearing, likely on May 12th.
While the stricter rules won’t apply to the current Ocean Drive case, that project remains under a stop-work order until the dune is fully restored.
